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System Manager, an app from AppHome, is available for 99 US cents at the App Store.
One of the great things about the iPad is you don't have to think about geek issues like disk space, memory usage, power management and such. That doesn't mean, though, that there aren't folks in the tabletsphere who have a healthy curiosity about those aspects of the slate. For them there's an app called "System Manager."
The app lets you take a peek at what's going on inside your iPad and lets you modify some of that activity. Using the app can be a little annoying, however, because it doesn't have a help file. There's a help video on YouTube, but it doesn't have any verbal exposition, so you can see what things the app does but are left in the dark about how to do them.
There are five parts to the app: memory, processes, disk information, battery and system.
At the center of the software's memory screen is a multi-colored pie chart. It dynamically shows your iPad's memory usage. It's organized into four categories.
There's wired memory, which is used for communications, and active memory, which contains recently used information. There's also inactive memory, which contains information used in the past. If an active app needs more memory to run, it can grab it from the inactive pool. Finally, there's free memory, which isn't being used at all.
Swiping Mystery
Below the pie chart, how much memory is in each category is listed in both megabytes and percentage of all available memory.
To the left of the category list is a double arrow circular icon. Poking it will reallocate your iPad's memory.
To the right of the list is an information button. Tapping it pops up a window with explanations of the memory categories. Beside the info button is more memory information -- amount of memory in the iPad, amount used and amount available.
Apps and processes running on your iPad are listed on the processes screen. Programs listed on the screen can be launched directly from it by poking a green dot beside the app.
Processes can be closed by swiping them. Why the software writers decided to use swiping instead of tapping is a mystery to me. What's more, since there's no help for the screen, it was only by happenstance that I discovered the swipe move at all.
After swiping a process, you need to be quick to close it. The close button's appearance on the display can be very brief at times. Since closing processes can cause system instability, you'll be wise to avoid this feature unless you're an experienced geek.
Utility Closet
At the center of the disk information screen is another pie chart. It shows used and unused disk space. Beside the chart, that information is quantified into gigabytes. You may be surprised at how little space scores of apps occupy on your iPad's hard disk.
When you call up the battery screen, a window immediately pops into view displaying information about power maintenance. You may have heard some of this stuff before. Let your battery run down to 10 to 20 percent at least once a month to extend its life, for example.
Tips for saving power when using your iPad are also available from the battery screen. These may sound familar, too. Turn off WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G when you're not using them, for instance. The software also recommends turning off the equalizer on your iPod to save battery life -- no doubt something left over from another version of the app.
The battery screen also permits you to set alarms for when to fully charge your iPod--that is, let its power level sink below 10 to 20 percent -- and when the battery is fully charged. While charging, it will display a timer that counts down to a fully charged battery.
General information about your iPad can be found on the system screen. It includes info on your WiFi connection -- IP and Mac address, as well as connection speed -- and 3G link.
System Manager has a few quirks, but for iPad owners who want to see what's going on under the hood of their tablet, it's an invaluable tool and a must-have utility.
